Brake shoe wedge means



May 23, 1933- v. H. HARBERT 1,910,541

May 23 l933- v. H. HARBERT 1,910,541

.A BRAKE SHOE WEDGE MEANS Filed May 20. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VICTOR E. HARBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TRANSERV CORPORATION,-

OFA CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS BRAKE sHoE WEDGE MEANS Application led Hay 20, 1932. rSerial No. 612,529.

My invention relates to means which areu especially adapted to present day standard brake heads and brake shoes for the purpose of firmly anchoring the shoes to the heads against undue play and 'wear producing movement of the shoes relative to the heads encountered during train operation.

My invention also has for its object the provision of more or less inexpensive means which may be easily applied to the brake heads to relieve the latter of wear and hence obviate the necessity of replacement of the more expensive brake heads; my improved means being such that Yreplacement thereof may be readily accomplished.

The inventlon also contemplates means whereby proper positioning of the means relative to the head and the shoe will be induced; wedging action on the shoe lockingl key effected; holding relation with the head lugs also easily provided; while the entire upper face of the head lug which carries the weight ofthe shoe will be protected; said means being adapted to new and worn heads and the usefulness of the heads thereby greatly enhanced.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the drawings; wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the forward or shoe receiving face, with the shoe weight receiving lug shown provided with one form of my wedge means.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe brake head and shoe, with the wedge means of Figure 1 applied and in section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the type of wedge means shown in Figures I and 2, with portions broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shoe side of a brake-head with a worn shoe sustaining lug and provided with a modified type of my improved wedge means.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the type of wedge means employed in Figure 4, with a portion broken away.

Figure 6'is a perspective view of the rear sideof the type of brake shoe employed with the heads shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of my improved wedge means.

Figure 8 is a similar view of a further modification of the wedgel means.`

(My improved wedge means is especially intended for the standard type of brake heads and shoes at present in use on railroads and is soconstructed that they can be easily applied, whether the head is new or worn, without necessitating any change or alteration in the head and shoe construction.

For reasons of economy and to permit interchange, the railroads adopted a stand-` ard type of brake head and shoe in so far as general shape and dimensions are concerned, namely a brake head as shown at 15 in Figures 1, 2 and 4, anda shoe as shown at 16 in Figures 2 and 6.

In this standard type, the brake shoe is provided on .its rear face with the arcuate lugs 17, 17 in which the ends of a short strap or metal plate 18 are embedded during casting. These lugs 17, 17, with the strap 18, are intended to fit into the recess of the head 15 provided between the vertically slotted lugs 19 and 20 of the head. The strap 18 in the shoe is arranged at a distance removed from the main rear face of the shoe 16 to provide a key receiving passage or slot which is intended to register with the slots in the head lugs 19 and 20 for the purpose of receiving the vshoe locking key or pin 21.

The heads and shoes generally consist of more or less rough castings with, certain tolerances in manufacture so as to enable easy insertion of the shoe lugs 17, 17 be-V tween the head lugs 19 and 20. As a result, a tight fit between the headiand shoe lugs is never provided, but, on the other hand, considerable play between head and shoe is permitted. With the shoes generally made of hard cast iron and the heads of malleable iron and therefore softer material, the play or vibration of the heavy shoe (Whose y weight is carried mainly by the lower head lug 20) during train motion soon causes the shoe lugs 17, 17 to cut into and wear away the upper supporting faceV ofthe lower head bent inwardly beneath the head lu dil lug 20, namely the portions of the head lug 20 on opposite sides of the key receiving slot therein due to the Contact therewith of the arcuate lugs 17, 17 at opposite ends of the strap 18 of the shoe. 'llhis constant vibration of the shoe causes the head lug 20 to become so worn that renewal of the heads is required at comparatively short intervals and hence entails considerable eX- pense and loss of service time for the freight cars; and, before such repairs are made, allows the shoes to have excess travel independently of the heads during brake application.

My improved means are devised to overcome this serious di'lculty. and to provide a firm relation between the head and shoe lugs so that wearing vibration or movement between these members is prevented.

ln the first three figures of the drawings, ll illustrate a form of my improved wedge means adapted to new heads and shoes or slightly worn heads; the means involving a hard metal plate 22 provided with a straight forward edge in keeping with the forward face of the shoe supporting lug 20 of the head. The plate is of length corresponding with the width of the head lug 20 so as to extend from side to side of the head; and the plate at opposite ends is provided with the depending portions 23, 23, of length somewhat greater than the thickness of the head lug 20 so as to depend therebeneath. rilhe portions 23, 23 are integral and coincident with the forward straight edge of the plate, with the lower ends ofI the portions 23 preferably slightly beveled or tapered rearwardly so as` to properly clear the rear face of the applied shoe 16; and these tapered lower ends are then 2() as shown at 24C in Figure 1, thereby olding the plate against vertical movement.

The intermediate rearwardly enlarged portion of the place is shown provided with a transverse cavity on its lower or head lug engaging face, as shown at 25 in Figure 3. lln the particular exemplification of the invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, this cavity is provided by bending the plate slightly upward, as shown at 26; the raised portion' extending from front to rear and of width corresponding with the distance between the two arcuate lugs 17, 17 on the shoe, thus permitting this raised portion 26 to fit between the shoe lugs 17, 17, without,

however, contacting or interfering with the lug-strap 18 of the shoe.

By constructing the intermediate portion of the plate in this manner, the plate is equally as well adapted for use on a slightly worn brake-head, as the cavity `or recess 25 on the'lower face of the plate will then accommodate the intermediate portion. of the head lug 20 which lies beneath the spacrelatar ing intermediate of the shoe lugs 17 17 and therefore is not worn; while the major portion of the plate will cover the slightly worn y,portions of the head lug on opposite sides of the median line and hence the major portion of the plate may extend in a horizontal plane beneath that of the unworn intermediate part of the head lug 20. Un the other hand, if the head lug is unworn, then the raised intermediate portion of the plate will extend into the socket or space between the shoe lugs 17, 17 without interfering with the proper use of the plate on a new head. At the same time, this raised portion 26 of the plate will also induce the proper positioning of the plate and assist against any tendency to lateral displacement.

rlhe plate 22, intermediate of opposite ends, is widened or enlarged; the enlargement adjacent opposite ends being made arcuate as shown at 27 the curvature corresponding with the curved sides of the shoe lugs 17, 17 (see Figure 6). 'llhe arcuate.

portion of the plate is thus adapted to the contour of the cavity that is worn into the head by the shoe lugs 17 17.

'lhe intermediate portion of the plate, namely the recess forming raised portion 26, at a point adapted to register with the locking key receiving sockets or passages in the head lugs, isprovided with a suitable opening or slot 28 for passage of locking key 21 therethrough; and where the means or plate is made of comparatively thin sheet metal, the portion of thev metal partially severed from or stamped out of the plate to form the key opening 28, is bent downwardly along the forward longitudinal line or wall of the I slot, to provide a depending tongue 29 which will extend substantially parallel with the forward face of the key v21 and cause the latter to be forced slightly rearwardly toward the head and hence induce the shoe lugs 17 17 to be forced rearwardly between the head lugs 19, 20 and hold the rear face of the shoe in firm relation with the head.

1n Figures 4 and 5 llshow a type ofwedge means 30 more especially intended for use Where excessive wear has occurred on the head lugs 20 and therefore a somewhat thicker plate Ais employed. rll`he Wedge means 30 may be of cast metal and in general contour, is substantially similar to the plate 22 heretofore described; having depending portions 31, 31 coincidentv with the forward `straight edge of the plate; the lower ends of these portions 31, 31 being intended to he slightly bent beneath the )head lug 20 as shown in Figure l after the plate is properly positioned.

This plate 30 is cast with a slightly raised intermediate portion or boss 32 on its upper face, adapted to extend between the shoe lugs 17, 17 and thus assist in positioning the plate and in holding it in place. rllhis raised portion or boss 32 is shown rearward of the longitudinal median line of the plate and is provided with a locking key slot or passage 33. This plate may be made of cast metal and has the forward "straight edge shown lprovided with a recess or cut-out portion at 34; and the forward side or wall of the boss 32 is extended downwardly beneath the plate 'to provide a tongue 35, which is also disposed in vertical alignment with the 'forward side-of the key slot 33 and therefore functions in the same manner as the tongue 29 of the previously described plate 22. The recess or slot 34 registers with the space between the shoe lugs 17 17 and hence is at a point where the unworn part of the head lug 20 may extend into the recess 34.

In Figures 7 and 8 I show other modifications of my improved wedge means involving comparatively heavy plates 36 and 37 which may be forged into shape and which, like the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5, are especially intended for use where more or less excessive wear on. the head lug has occurred suiiiciently to accominodate `a plate of the thickness of these types. The plates 36 and 37 are both of uniform thickness and provided with fiat faces and the plates are formed with the rearwardly disposed portions having the arcuate perimeters as at 38 at opposite ends in keeping with the arcuate formation of the shoe lugs 17 17, see Figure 6, so as to fully extend throughout the shoe lugs and receive ythe wear and strains therefrom.

The 4forward straight lon itudinal side of the plate 36, intermediate o the ends, nainely at a point which will be coincident with the spacing between the shoe lugs 17, 17 may be cut away as shown at 39, if desired; whilethe rearwardly bowed or extended portion of the plate is provided with an elongated opening 40 which is adapted to register with the spacing between the shoe lugs 17 17 rearward of the connecting strap 18 of the shoe, for the purpose of receiving the shoe locking key 21; the slot, or elongated opening 40 being spaced'frqm the recess or cut 'out portion 39 by an intervening reenforcing web or portion 41; Whereas in Figure 8, this intervening web portion 41 is shown omitted. With the plate 37 of sulcient thickness, namely somewhat heavier than plate 36, a single recess 42 may be provided for passage of t-he shoe locking key 21; the recess 42 terminating somewhat farther removed from the rear` side of the plate than is true of the slot 40in plate 36.

The locking key 21 is normally provided with a slight forward curvature, but during insertion has a tendencyto flex and straighten and thus have less firm. holding action. The portionsof the various forms of means, rearward of the key receiving passages, however, tends to force the lower end of the key toward the shoe and hence cause the shoe to be more firmly drawn toward the head. Where the wedge means are provided with the depending tongues, as in Figures l and 4, these tongues extend lengthwise of the forward faces of `the keys and increase the binding action and hence prevent any chattering 'tendency of the shoe and therefore eliminate possibility of rapid wear of the head lug 20.

The plates 36 and 37, like the other forms, are provided with the depending legs or portions 43 of narrower width than the plate proper and arranged coincident with the forward straight longitudinal side as shown so as to clear the forwardly curving head; the legs 43 being of length suiiicient to extend slightly beneath the head lug 20 in order that the legs may be bent therebeneath, as

shown in Figures 1 and 4.

With the recesses at the forward longitudinal sides of the plates, as shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8, or the recess in the intermediate portion as provided on the lower side of the plate 22 in Figure 1, all of which will be disposed beneath the recess intermediate of the two shoe lugs -17 17 the plates are adapted to receive any upstanding unworn central portion on the head lug 2 0, thus pcrmitting the plates to lay substantially flat on the head lug 20.

I have shown various embodiments of my invention and have described the saine in terms of description, but certain modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: i

1. Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate portion adapted to be disposed between the opposing faces of the supporting lugs of a brake head and brake shoe, the plate being of greater width intermediate of its ends and curving rearwardly to fit into the recess in the forward face of the brake head, the intermediate portion oi. the plate having a key receiving passage, while the ends of the plate coincident with the forward longitudinal edge thereof are disposed downwardly to straddle opposite sides of the head lug.

2. -Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate adapted to be disposed between the opposing faces of the supporting lugs of a brake head and brake shoe and being. of greater width intermediate of its ends and curving rearwardly to fit'the recess in the forward :face of the brake head, the intermediate portion of the plate being formed to V,

f interme iate portion being also formed to lreceive'the shoe locking key, and the ends of the plate having depending legs coincident with the'forward side adapted to strad-dle opposite sides of the head-lug and to extend therebeneath. l

el. Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate adapted to be disposed between the opposing faces of the supporting lugs of a brake head and a brake shoe and having' a straight longitudinal edge at the forward side and a rearwardly curving portion intermediate ofthe ends, theforward side of the plate having a recess coincident with the non-wear receiving portion of the head lug, said intermediate portion being also formed to provide a shoe locking key passage, and; the ends of the plate forward of the rearwardly curved portion having narrow depending legs coincident with the forward side adapted to straddle opposite sides of the head lug and to extend therebeneath.

5. Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate adapted to be disposed between the opposing faces of the supporting'lugs of a brake head and a brake shoe and having a lstraight longitudinal edge at the forward side and a rearwardly curving portion, intermediate of the ends, the intermediate por? tion of the plate being recessed at a point coincident withthe non-wear receiving portion of the head lug, said intermediate portion being also formed to provide a shoe lookin key passage, and the ends of the plate orward of the rearwardly curved por tion having narrow depending legs coinildent with the 'forward side adapted to' straddle opposite sides of the head lug and to extend therebeneath.

6. Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate adapted tobe disposed between'the o osin faces of the supporting 1u s of av PP g g brake head and a brake shoe and having a side and a rearwardly curving portion intermediate of the ends, the intermediate portion of thelplate being recessed at a point v sage, and the ends of the plate forward of the rearwardly curved portion having narrow depending legs coincident with the for= temeer',

ward side adapted to straddle opposite sides of the head lug and to extend therebeneath.,

7. Brake shoe wedge means comprising a plate adapted to be disposed between 'the opposing faces of the supporting lugs of a brake head and brake shoe and having a straight longitudinal edge at the forward side and a vrearwardly curving portion intermediate of its ends, the plate being formed intermediate of its ends with a recess adapted to receive the upstanding unworn portion of the head lug, the intermediate portion of the plate also having a key receiving slot, while the ends of the plate terminate in narrow depending legs coincident with the forward straight edge of the plate.

VICTUR H. HARBERT.

.straight longitudinal* edge at the forward 

